In a night of pure magic at Eden Gardens, Sanju Samson silenced his critics and powered India into the 2026 T20 World Cup semifinals.

Chasing a daunting 196 against the West Indies on Sunday, March 1, Samson played the "innings of his life," smashing an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls.

This heroic knock secured a five-wicket victory and set up a blockbuster semifinal clash against England at the Wankhede Stadium.

The most emotional moment came after the winning runs. As Samson walked back to the dugout, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav doffed his cap and bowed deeply to him.

On social media, Surya shared a heartwarming tribute to the man affectionately known as "Chetta," writing, "Good things happen to good people who wait, who have a lot of patience."

During the post-match presentation, the skipper added, "It is all his hard work, that he has been putting in when he was not playing and he is getting the fruit at the right time."

The "Chetta" fever spread instantly, with Kerala film icons like Mammootty and Mohanlal hailing the "Justice for Sanju" moment. Sachin Tendulkar also joined the praise, noting that "Sanju Samson's calm presence at the crease was wonderful to watch."

For a player often sidelined, this "Chetta" tribute marked a definitive redemption on the world stage.